7 Ways Your Resume Is Boring Just Like Everyone

ElsesOriginal article by Jessica Holbrook Hernandez

1. It’s Still Sporting That Outdated Objective.

If your resume is utilizing an objective, you really should trash it and start all over with a fresh, powerful introduction that incorporates a personal branding statement.

A tailored career summary and polished personal branding statement will catch the employer’s attention and give him or her the best information up front—the information he or she needs to make a decision to call you to schedule an interview.

2. The Design / Format Is Generic

There is a strategy behind resume formatting and design.

If you are an executive, yet you are using an entry-level resume format, you will look unprofessional and under-qualified.

3. It’s Missing Important Keywords.

Omit keywords and the software system scanning your resume can’t find you.

The recruiter giving your resume a quick once-over is looking for specific keywords as well.

Leave them out and you’ll be left out of the interview process.

4. It Has Generic And/Or Vague Statements.

Avoid using the same old terminology that everyone else uses in their resumes.

Yes, we know you can problem solve. But instead of telling me you’re a problem solver, show me the result of a problem you solved.

5. It Doesn’t Focus On Hard Skills

And the championship goes to… hard skills. I used to be a full-time recruiter, and I used Monster and CareerBuilder to search for candidates. Not once did I enter the search terms: great communicator, excellent verbal skills, detail-oriented.

These are universal statements millions use to describe themselves. Give me something tangible and relevant to the position I am trying to fill.

6. It Tells Versus Shows.

Instead of wasting valuable real estate on your resume providing me with a rundown of your job description, show me what you achieved, what you accomplished, and what you contributed in the past.

I want to know the challenges you faced in your previous roles, how you addressed them, and the results you obtained. No two people will have the exact same experiences. Your experiences are what make you outshine your competition—USE THEM TO YOUR ADVANTAGE.

7. It’s Passive.

Using terminology that is passive is boring and lacks action. Instead of using phrases like “served as,” “duties included,” “promoted to,” “worked with”…choose strong action verbs. Action verbs do just what they say: they convey action and, ultimately, results.

Choose terms like: Launched, Catapulted, Spearheaded, and Pioneered. These terms tell me something. They show me the action you took and captivate my attention so that I want to read on to discover the results you achieved.

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